18-year-old seeks GOP nomination to run against NY Sen. Skoufis

STONY POINT, N.Y. — An 18-year-old from Rockland County says he'll seek the Republican nomination to run for the state's 39th Senate District seat this fall.

Aidan Rowan, of Stony Point, is looking to unseat first-term incumbent James Skoufis, D-Woodbury, in the district, which includes parts of Ulster, Orange and Rockland counties.

“Over the past 12 months and beyond, New York has engaged in an increasingly dangerous progressive path which we, as citizens of this great Empire State, can no longer afford,” Rowan said in announcing his candidacy.

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He cited, in particular, bail reform, "ninth-month, late-term abortions" and the state's new Green Light Law, which allows undocumented immigrants to apply for New York driver's licenses. Rowan said the Green Light Law "could lead to illegitimate voting privileges."

Of running for state office at the age of only 18, he said: "I am mature beyond my years and have a significant amount of contributions to create for the citizens of this great state and potential new citizens as well."

Skoufis, 32, previously a state assemblyman, won the 39th District Senate seat in November 2018 over Republican Tom Basile by a margin of about 55-45 percent. Skoufis succeeded Republican Bill Larkin, who served in the Senate for 28 years.